Absorbent liner and holder portion of a sanitary garment

ABSTRACT

The liner-holder portion of a garment for incontinent persons comprising a flexible moisture-impervious backing sheet and flaps forming a reservoir and adapted to receive insertably liquid absorbent liners. The flaps are attached along the peripheral edge of the backing sheet, and stub seams are provided along selected locations for urging and maintaining the flaps to an overlaying position relative the backing sheet so as to prevent distortion of the garment when being worn or during handling. The liners are fitted with recesses to accept the stub seams to hold the liners in place and to prevent dislodgement of the liners when the liner-holder is handled or worn.

United States Patent 1 1 Ralph ABSORBENT LINER AND HOLDER PORTION or A SANITARY GARMENT [76] Inventor: Harold J. Ralph, 2002 E. Santa Clara Ave., Santa Ana, Calif. 92701 [22] Filed: Nov. 9, 1970 211 App]. No.2 88,045

52 11. c1. 128/287 51 int. Cl. A611 13/16 [58] Field of Search 128/284, 286, 287, 128/288, 290 H [56] References Cited 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,694,161 12/1928 'Budwig et a1. 128/284 2,444,973 7/1948 Best 128/287 2,545,674 3/1951 Ralph 128/287 2,826,199 3/1958 Brandon 128/284 2,914,069 11/1959 Osborn 128/287 3,042,043, 1/19 2 Wulirlin 128/284 3,143,112 8/1964 Sanford 128/287 [111 3,747,602 [451 July 24,1973

Ralph 128/287 [57] ABSTRACT The liner-holder portion of a garment for incontinent persons comprising a flexible moisture-impervious backing sheet and flaps forming a reservoir and adapted to receive insertably liquid absorbent liners. The flaps are attached along the peripheral edge of the backing sheet, and stub seams are provided along selected locations for urging and maintaining the flaps to an overlaying position relative the backing sheet so as to prevent distortion of the garment when being worn or during handling. The liners are fitted with recesses to accept the stub seams to hold the liners in place and to prevent dislodgement of the liners when the linerholder is handled or worn.

13 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 7/1969 Sanford .5. ..l28/287.

' Patented July 24,1913 Y 3,747,602

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 arms-way 1M l r ABSORBENT LINER AND HOLDER PORTION OF A SANITARY GARMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to sanitary garments and, more particularly, to an improved absorbent liner and holder adapted to be worn for receiving body wastes or discharges. The invention specifically relates to that portion of such garments which are comprised of a flexible, moisture-impervious reservoir, fabricated in a manner as to receive insertably, absorbent liners that are removable and replaceable when soiled, said liners being either of materials suitable for laundering and reuse, or of materials designed for a single use and disposal.

2. Description of the Prior Art Garments for incontinent persons are known in the prior art as exemplified by two recent U.S. Pats, 3,441,024 and 3,441,025, each issued on Apr. 29, 1969, to H. J. Ralph, the present inventor. The garment may be comprised of a moisture-impervious backing sheet and two flaps connected along the side edges of the backing sheet so asto act as a liquid reservoir. The receptor also includes a liquid absorbent liner to collect the more solid discharge material and to absorb the liquid portion of the discharge material.

When the garment is contoured to fit the lower abdomen, buttocks, and crotch regionsof a wearer, the two side members, sometimes referred to as side flaps, tend to become distorted and disarranged,thereby adversely affecting the efficacy of the garment as a reservoir.

Another problem arises when the user handles the garment; for example, when releasing the garment from an attached belt or suspenders in order to utilize toilet facilities, the liner has a tendency to slip free from the garment, thereby requiring the complete removal of the garment to replace the liner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by providing an improved absorbent liner and holder for human discharges comprising an elongated, fluid-impervious backing sheet having two longitudinal peripheral edges; two elongated side flaps and fluid absorbent liner. The elongated side flaps are disposed each adjacent one of the longitudinal peripheral edges of the backing sheet and connected thereto. Each of the side flaps is additionally attached to the backing sheet with a stub seam where the seam extends from a respective longitudinal edge, for holding the flaps to a position essentially parallel to the backing sheet and overlying the backing sheet.

The fluid-absorbent liner is disposed between the backing sheet and the side flaps. The liner is provided with recesses or notches in its longitudinal peripheral edges for receiving the stub seams of the backing sheet andthe side flaps to retain the liner in a predetermined position relative to the backing sheet.

The invention further includes the liner, individually, as well as the holder comprising the backing sheet and the side flaps.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liner -holder having the ability to maintain itself as a functional reservoir without becoming disarranged and/or distroted when contoured to the lower abdomen, but tocks, and crotch areas.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a liner-holder having an insertable liner which is held and maintained securely within the holder and which is prevented from dislodging when handled and/or worn.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a liner-holder which will permit quick and easy removal of soiled liners without manually handling the liner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a liner-holder for human discharges, having side flaps which are urged to a position overlying a backing sheet.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a liner-holder for human discharges where the liner is refined in a fixed position relative the backing sheet.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a liner-holder for human discharges which retains a liner in a fixed position, which urges the side flaps to an overlying position and which is easily and economi cally fabricated.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an economically manufactured liner structure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view partially broken away of a linerholder having generally parallel longitudinal peripheral edges;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the liner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view ofa portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken within the circle 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along line 44 of FIG. 3 in the direction of the appended arrows;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of a liner-holder illustrating nonparallel longitudinal peripheral edges;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 5 taken within the circle 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6 in the direction. of the appended ar rows;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a modified portion of the embodiment of FIG. 5 illustrating a spot-weld technique;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a series of liners formed from a continuous web, suitable for use in the holder of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is a plan view, similar to that of FIG. 9, showing a plurality of liners formed from a continuous web, suitable for use in the liner-holder of FIG. 5

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS While the present invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, illustrative embodiments are shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, how ever, that it is not the present intention to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, buton the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 5, two liner-holder embodiments 8, 9 are shown. Each liner-holder includes a backing sheet 10, FIG. 1, 10a, FIG. 5, and a pair of side flaps 12, 14, FIG. 1, and 12a, 14a, FIG. 5. Each side flap is connected to a longitudinal peripheral edge of the backing sheet 10 and is positioned to overlie a portion of the backing sheet so as to form a pocket for a fluid absorbent disposable liner such as the liner 16, FIG. 1, shownin greater detail in FIG. 2, and the liner 16a, FIG. 5. To insure that a fluid reservoir is formed, each of the holders has laterally extending'end flaps 18, 20, FIG. 1 and 18a, 20a, FIG. 5.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 in greater detail, the backing sheet 10 is shown having a generally elongated trapezoidal geometric shape with two longitudinal peripheral edges 22, 24. The smaller dimensioned end portions are shown retroverted or folded back to form the end flaps 18, 20. The end flaps 18, 20 may be connected in place by releasable snaps 26, 28 holding the flap l8 and snaps 30, 32 holding the flap 20.

With the two elongated side flaps 12, 14 connected along the longitudinal peripheral edges 22, 24, respectively, so as to overlie the backing sheet 10, a reservoir or receptacle is formed which can retain fluid, provided the backingsheet 10 and flap material 10 is fluid impervious. One type of suitable material is any convenient synthetic resin such as vinyl, and especially the lanolized vinyls that have recently become commerically available. Although the attachment between an edge of the side flaps 12, 14 and the longitudinal peripheral edges. of the backing sheet 10 may be easiy accomplished by stitching a U-shaped tape or band of material along each of the peripheral edges, it is preferred that an electronically welded seam 34 be employed which simultaneously attaches both flaps l2, 14 to backing sheet 10 along the peripheral edges 22, 24. 1 The replaceable liner 16 is of any suitable fluidabsorbent material, such as flannel, or a disposable material, such as cellulose, paper, or the like. Liner 16 is placed adjacentthe backing sheet 10 so as to have its longitudinal peripheral edges 38, 40, FIG. 2, positioned between the side flaps 12, 14, respectively, and the backing sheet 10. The end edges 42, 44 of the liner 16 are positioned between the end flaps 18 and 20, respectively, and the backing sheet 10.

In accordance with one of the important aspects of the present invention, provision is made for biasing the side flaps 12, 14 to the overlying position as shown so that when the liner-holder is curved to fit over the lower abdomen, buttocks, and crotch areas ofa human being, the side flaps 12, 14 are not disarranged or distorted out of position to allow seepage or leakage ofliquid out of the region defined by the backing sheet 10 and the side flaps.

This is accomplished by additionally attaching each of the side flaps 12, 14 along preselected portions of the backing sheet 10. For example, a pair of small stub seams are welded into the flaps and backing sheet 46, 48. Each of the stub seams 46, 48 extends from its respective longitudinal peripheral edge 22, 24 in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the liner-holder to a point about half way across the width of the side flap.

For example, the stub seam 46 extends from the seam 34 about half way across the flap 12 to connect the flap 12 to the backing sheet 10. In a similar fashion, the stub seam 48 extends from the seam 34 about half way across the flap 14. Not only are the side flaps 12, 14 more strongly attached to the backing sheet 10 by the addition of the stub seams 46, 48, but the side flaps 12, 14 tend to be held in the flat position shown, substantially parallel to the backing sheet and overlying it, even when the liner-holder 8 is in use.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the top and bottom ends 18, 20 are adapted to be retroverted upon themselves to form moisture-retaining pockets at the ends. To facilitate the retroverting of the end flaps, additional stub seams 50, 51 can be subsequently welded into the fold lines which become the upper edge of the liner holder, and similarly, stub seams can be welded into the fold line which becomes the bottom edge of the liner-holder 8. Alternatively, the liner-holder 8 can be provided with upper and lower end flap members substantially similar to the side flap members. The end flap member can be welded to the backing sheet 10 and the same continuous seam 34, and the stub seam 50, 51 can be provided as a part of that welding operation.

In FIG. 3, the attached stub seam 46 of FIG. 1 is shown in an enlarged view illustrating the welded seam which is attached to the flap 12 to the backing sheet 10 so as to cause the inward biasing of the flap.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a clearer illustration of the generally parallel relationship between the backing sheet 10 and the flap 14 so as to form a pocket to receive the liner 16. Where the inward weld is placed, such as at the stub seam 46, the flap l4 and the backing sheet 10 are brought into intimate contact.

In accordance with another important aspect of the present invention, provision is made for retaining the fluid-absorbent liner in a preselected position so as to prevent the liner from sliding about within the holder 8 when being handled or worn.

Referring to FIG. 2, this is accomplished by providing notches or recesses in the longitudinal peripheral edges 38, 40 of the liner 16. For example, the liner 16 has a recess 54 in the peripheral edge 38 and a recess 56 in the peripheral edge 40. Geometrically, the recesses 54, 56 may be substantially wedge-shaped so that insertion of the liner in the liner-holder 8 (FIG. 1) is not hindered.

As is more readily visible in FIG. 3, the position of the recess 54 about the stub seam 46 readily illustrates that if there is a force tending to move the liner 16 in a downward direction (upward and downward refer to the directions relative the illustration of FIG. 3), upper edge 58, the wall of the recess 54 of the liner, will come in to contact with the upper edge 62 of the stub seam 46. If there is a force tending to move the liner in an upward direction, lower edge 60 of the recess 54 will come into contact with the bottom part 64 of the stub seam 46.

It is to be understood that addition of the stub seams between the side flaps and the backing sheet, and the placement of recesses in the periphery of the liner, do not greatly affect the liner holder or liner fabrication processes already existing. Thus, another major advantage of the invention is achieved since the liner-holders and liners may still be economically fabricated.

In alternative embodiments, the number and placement of stub seams can be variedso as to provide more local regions which will prevent the liner from excessive movement relative the backing sheet. Nevertheless, when desired, the liner can still be easily removed During normal use, when the liner-holder is worn for a protection, for example, normal utilization of toilet facilities requires removal of the liner-holder. Generally, the holder is released at the front and permitted to fall free. If the liner is not adequately restrained, it may fall out of the cover, requiring the complete removal of the holder so that a liner can be reinserted.

' The arrangement illustrated herein prevents the liner from separating from the holder undesirably. However, a soiled liner can be easily removed without manual handling by the simple expediency of inverting the holder and permitting the soiled liner to fall away.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a liner-holder similar to that disclosed in the above-identified Ralph U.S. Pat. No. 3,441,025 is shown. The liner-holder 9 includes a backing sheet 10a, two elongated side flaps 12a, 14a, two longitudinal end flaps 18a, a, and a liner 16a. The backing sheet 10a differs from the backing sheet 10 of FIG. 1 in that the two longitudinal peripheral edges 70, 72 are not generally converging straight lines in FIG. 1, but rather converge with an accentuated inward taper so as to provide a more fitted garment, especially where the garment fits directly between the legs of the wearer.

As with the embodiment of FIG. 1, the elongated side flaps 12a, 14a are attached, respectively, along the longitudinal peripheral edges 70, 72 in any suitable fashion. Preferably, the side flaps 12a, 14a and backing sheet 10a are heat-sealed or welded together to form a continuous seam 73.

The end flaps 18a, 20a are formed by attaching additional material to the ends 75, 77 of the backing sheet by any suitable process, such as by heat-sealing or welding, and stub seams, similar to those in FIG. 1, can be employedto maintain the end flaps 18a, 20a in place. The end flap 18a.is longer than the end flap 20a because the distance between the longitudinal peripheral ends 70, 72 is greater when measured along the end 77 than when measured along the end 75.

The side flaps 12a, 14a are additionally attached to the backing sheet with stub seams 74, 76 to create the overlaying biasing forces as explained above. The flap 12a has a connecting stub seam 74, and the flap 14a is additionally connected with stub seam 76.

It is to be clearly understood that the technique used to attach the side flaps to the backing sheet may be varied depending on preference and does not affect the invention herein in any way. For the purposes herein, the side flaps may be connected by a heat-sealing process, as discussed relative FIG. 5, or by the stitched band process, discussed in the prior Ralph U.S. Pat. No. 3,44 l ,025, or any combination of the two processes. In addition, the end flaps may be formed by retroverting a portion of the backing sheet upon itself or by attaching additional material to the ends of the backing sheet.

It is to be further understood that the geometric shape of the backing sheet does not affect the invention herein nor does the geometric shape of theelongated flaps connected to the longitudinal peripheral edges. For example, the geometric shape may be rectangular for smaller liner-holders adapted for people being only lightly incontinent andwhose releases of urine are negligible.

Referring now to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, there is illustrated an enlarged view of the stub seam 76 which extends from the longitudinal peripheral edge 72 in a generally perpendicular direction, relative the longitudinal axis of the liner-holder 9. The stub seam 76 is made by heat-sealing the side flap 14a to the backing'sheet 10a. As shown in dotted line, the liner 16a has a longitudinal peripheral edge 78 having a notch or recess 80 to receive the stub seam 76 in the same manner that the liner [6 of FIG. 2 received the stub seam 46 of the liner-holder 8lof FIG. 1.

Another important aspect of the present invention is the provisions made to bias the side flaps without requiring the liner to be notched. Referring now to FIG. 8, there is illustrated an enlarged, modified portion of the embodiment of FIG. 5 including a side flap 14b, a liner 16b, and a backing sheet 1%, having a peripheral edge 72b. The flap 14b is attached to the backing sheet 10b along a sealed seam 82 identical to that used in the FIG. 5 embodiment so as to have the side flap 14b over-lying the backing sheet and a longitudinal peripheral portion of the liner.

An additional attachment is made betweeen the flap and the backing sheet by heat-sealing or spot welding small regions or portions adjacent the sealing seam 82, such as the spot weld 84 which has a semicircuilar shape. The spot weld 84 extends'a slight distance from the sealing seam 82, but substantially less than the distance extended by the stub seam 76 of FIG. 5, forexample.

The longitudinal peripheral edge 86 of the liner 16b need not have notches or recesses in order to accommodate the spot weld 84. It is noted that similar spot welds may be used in conjunction with the larger, stub seams of FIGS. 1 to 5, soas to insure not only that the side flaps are properly biased along their entire longitudinal length, but also that the liner is sufficiently retained in its preselected position.

Provision is made to manufacture absorbent liners in a facilitated manner, in part by structuring the longitudinal peripheral edges in a complementing fashion. Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, a portion of a strip of material 100, such asstacked sheets of absorbent fibrous material, is illustrated partly in solid line and partly in phantom line. The strip is comprised of a pluraliy of individiual webs 102 which are attached together by a series of perforations 104. t

The longitudinal peripheral edges of one liner are complementary to the adjacent longitudinal peripheral edges of the liners on either side when the liners are formed from the same strip of stacked material. For example, the strip of material has outlined two full liners and portions of two others. Afirst, complete liner 106 has longitudinal peripheral edges 108, 110 and lateral end edges 112, 114. A second liner 116 is oppositely disposed from the liner 106 and shares one longitudinal peripheral edge 110 in common with the liner 116. t

A shorter lateral end edge 114 of the liner 106 is a continuation of the longer lateral end edge 118 of the liner 116. In a like manner, a longer lateral end edge 112 of the liner 106 is contiguous with the shorter lateral end edge 120 of the liner 1l6.Thus, the lines 106, 116 are complementary; the liner 116 would also be complementary to itself if the liner is compared to itself rotated by. The liner 116 is additionally complementary to the liner 122 in an identical manner to that described relative the liner 106.

After cutting along the edges 108, 110, notches or recesses may be formed as. indicated at 124, 126 to complete the liner 116. The production of such liners can be part of a continuous operation in which a rotating knife and stitching embosser continuously apply the embossing stitches 104 to hold several layers 102 together, and to die-cut the individual liners and the notches or recesses as well. Such a production scheme would provide liners with a minimum of waste material. Moreover, in other alternative configurations, the numher and location of the recesses or notches can be arbitrarily shifted about to correspond to the stub seams of 10 the liner-holder with which the individual liner it to function.

Turning finally to FIG. 10, there are shown liners suitable to fit the liner-holder 9 of FIG. 5, adapted for mass production in similar fashion. Where appropriate, the reference numerals of FIG. 9 have been applied to the embodiment of FIG. 10, with the addition of primes to distinguish the liners suitable for the holder Q of FIG. 5 from the liners of FIG. 2, intended to fit the linerholder 8 of FIG. 1.

Thus, there has been shown a new and improved absorbent liner and liner-holder portion of a sanitary garment. The liner-holder is provided with stub seams joining side flaps to the back cover material. The stub seams are disposed intermediate the ends of the linerholder and cooperate with corresponding notches or recesses in the absorbent liners to hold the liner reasonably in place through wearing or handling of the linerholder. Further, additional tacking or spot welds are used in conjunction with the welded seams to retain the flapsin a substantially folded configuration parallel to the backing sheet.

An improved disposable liner has also been disclosed which is susceptible of high-speed mass production, using paper converting techniques. A plurality of individual sheets can be fastened together by rows of perforations, and individual liners of complementary shapes can be die-cut from the continuous roll. As a part of the die-cutting process, the individual liners can be separated, and notches or recesses can be provided to correspond to the location of the holding stub seams which are provided in the liner-holders.

What is claimed as new is:

l. The combination of:

the liner-holder portion of a sanitary garment adapted to be worn, comprising:

an elongated, fluid-impervious backing sheet having two longitudinal peripheral edges;

two elongated side flaps, each disposed adjacent one of the longitudinal peripheral edges of said backing sheet and connected thereto;

attachment means including stub seams joining said side flaps to said backing sheet, said stub seams extending transversely from a respective longitudinal peripheral edge and urging said side flaps to a position essentially parallel to and overlying said backing sheet, whereby said liner-holder is adapted to receive an absorbent liner member between said side flaps and said backing sheet;

and a fluid absorbent liner adapted to be disposed between said backing sheet and said side flaps, said liner having recesses in its longitudinal peripheral edges for receiving said stub seams to retain said liner in a fixed position relative to said backing sheet.

2. The liner holder portion of a sanitary garment in claim 1 above, including two end flaps, each connected along one end of said backing sheet and adapted to overlie said side flaps.

3. The liner-holder portion of a sanitary garment as in claim 2, wherein said attaching means further include end flap stub seams joining said end flaps to said backing sheet, said end flap stub seams extending longitudinally of said backing sheet end and urging said end flaps to a position essentially parallel to and overlying said backing sheet.

4. The liner-holder portion of a sanitary garment as in claim 1 above, wherein said attaching means include spot welds fastening incremental areas of said side flaps to said backing sheet, said stub seams extending a substantially greater distance transversely to the longitudinal axis of said backing sheet than said spot welds.

5. In a sanitary garment including a fluid impervious backing sheet having two longitudinal peripheral edges;

two elongated side flaps each joined to a longitudinal peripheral edge and disposed to overlie said backing sheet;

a removably insertable fluid absorbent liner member disposed adjacent said backing sheet and having longitudinal peripheral edges retained between said backing sheet and said side flaps, the improvement comprising:

attaching means including stub seams joining each of said side flaps to said backing sheet along a portion ofa flap and said backing sheet, said stub seams extending inwardly in a generally transverse direction relative to the respective longitudinal peripheral edge of the backing sheet to which the side flap is connected, for urging the side flaps to an overlying position relative to said backing sheet;

and means defining recesses in said liner member, along said longitudinal peripheral edges thereof, for receiving said stub seams and retaining the liner in place relative to the backing sheet.

6. The improved santiary garment of claim 5 above, wherein said attaching means include spot welds joining each side flap to the backing sheet in preselected locations adjacent the longitudinal peripheral edges of the backing sheet, said spot welds extending a relatively short distance in from the longitudinal peripheral edges.

7. In a santiary garment adapted to be worn, and having opposite end portions constituting the front and back, and an intermediate portion for extending through the crotch of the wearer, the combination of:

a holder comprising an elongated fluid'impervious backing sheet having two longitudinal side edges, and two, elongated side flaps in overlying relation with the longitudinal side edge portions of said backing sheet and each connected to said backing sheet along one of said side edges and having a free edge portion spaced inwardly therefrom;

a transverse stub seam between each of said side flaps and said backingsheet located in said intermediate portion of said garment and connecting the side flap to the backing sheet to maintain the side flap in overlying relation with the backing sheet in the crotchof the wearer while the garment is worn;

and an elongated absorbent liner fitted in said'holder and having side edge portions disposed between said side flaps and said backing sheet, said side edge portions of said liner having transverse notches therein interfitting with said stub seams to prevent slipping of said liner in said intermediate portion of said garment.

8. The liner-holder of a sanitary garment adapted to be worn, comprising:

an elongated, fluid-impervious backing sheet having two longitudinal outer peripheral edges;

two elongated side flaps, each disposed in overlying relation with one side edge portion of said backing sheet and connected thereto along the outer side of the flap;

said liner-holder having opposite end portions for lying against the front and back ofa wearer, and an intermediate portion for extending through the crotch area;

and at least one transverse stub seam between each of said side flaps and said backing sheet, located in said intermediate portion, and extending at least part way across the side flap to maintain the side flap in overlying relation with said backing sheet despite disarrangement of said liner-holder in the crotch area.

9. The combination with the liner-holder defined in claim 8, of an elnogated fluid-absorbentliner disposed against said backing sheet and having side edge portions underlying said side flaps, said liner having notches in its longitudinal peripheral edges interfitting with said stub seams to retain the liner in a fixed position in the intermediateportion of the liner-holder.

10. The combination defined in cliam 9 in which said stub seams and said notches are wedge-shaped, the wider endsthereof being the outer ends.

11. in a santiary garment adapted to be worn with a fluid-absorbent liner having longitudinal side edges with notches in the intermediate portion thereof, said garment comprising an elongated, fluid-impervious backing sheet with opposite end portions constituting the front and back, and an intermediate portion for extending through the crotch of a wearer, said backing sheet having two longitudinal side edges; and two elongated side flaps each joined to said backing sheet along one of said longitudinal side edges and disposed in overlying relation with the backing sheet to cooperate therewith in defining a centrally open fluid reservoir in which the liner can be worn, the improvement comprismg:

transverse stub seam means for joining said side flaps to said backing sheet in said intermediate portion, to maintain said side flaps in overlying relation with said backing sheet in the crotch area while the garment is worn, and for also interfitting with the notches in the liner to prevent slipping of the liner in the crotch area.

12. For use in a sanitary garment in combination with the liner-holder having an elongated, fluid-impervious backing sheet with two longitudinal peripheral edges, two elongated side flaps overlying "the longitudinal edge portions of said backing sheet and joined to the backing sheet along said peripheral edges, and two transverse stub seams joining said side flaps to said backing sheet approximately midway between the ends of the linerholder, a liner composed of absorbent material and sized and shaped to fit into the liner-holder against said backing sheet with side edge portions of said liner underlying said side flaps, said side edge portions of said liner having transverse locking notches therein, approximately midway between the ends of the liner, and sized and shaped to, receive the stubseams when the liner is in the liner-holder.

13. A liner as defined in claim 12 in which said transverse notches are wedge-shaped. 

1. The combination of: the liner-holder portion of a sanitary garment adapted to be worn, comprising: an elongated, fluid-impervious backing sheet having two longitudinal peripheral edges; two elongated side flaps, each disposed adjacent one of the longitudinal peripheral edges of said backing sheet and connected thereto; attachment means including stub seams joining said side flaps to said backing sheet, said stub seams extending transversely from a respective longitudinal peripheral edge and urging said side flaps to a position essentially parallel to and overlying said backing sheet, whereby said liner-holder is adapted to receive an absorbent liner member between said side flaps and said backing sheet; and a fluid absorbent liner adapted to be disposed between said backing sheet and said side flaps, said liner having recesses in its longitudinal peripheral edges for receiving said stub seams to retain said liner in a fixed position relative to said backing sheet.
 2. The liner holder portion of a sanitary garment in claim 1 above, including two end flaps, each connected along one end of said backing sheet and adapted to overlie said side flaps.
 3. The liner-holder portion of a sanitary garment as in claim 2, wherein said attaching means further include end flap stub seams joining said end flaps to said backing sheet, said end flap stub seams extending longitudinally of said backing sheet end and urging said end flaps to a position essentially parallel to and overlying said backing sheet.
 4. The liner-holder portion of a sanitary garment as in claim 1 above, wherein said attaching means include spot welds fastening incremental areas of said side flaps to said backing sheet, said stub seams extending a substantially greater distance transversely to the longitudinal axis of said backing sheet than said spot welds.
 5. In a sanitary garment including a fluid impervious backing sheet having two longitudinal peripheral edges; two elongated side flaps each joined to a longitudinal peripheral edge and disposed to overlie said backing sheet; a removably insertable fluid absorbent liner member disposed adjacent said backing sheet and having longitudinal peripheral edges retained between said backing sheet and said side flaps, the improvement comprising: attaching means including stub seams joining each of said side flaps to said backing sheet along a portion of a flap and said backing sheet, said stub seams extending inwardly in a generally transverse direction relative to the respective longitudinal peripheral edge of the backing sheet to which the side flap is connected, for urging the side flaps to an overlying position relative to said backing sheet; and means defining recesses in said liner member, along said longitudinal peripheral edges thereof, for receiving said stub seams and retaining the liner in place relative to the backing sheet.
 6. The improved santiary garment of claim 5 above, wherein said attaching means include spot welds joining each side flap to the backing sheet in preselected locations adjacent the longitudinal peripheral edges of the backing sheet, said spot welds extending a relatively short distance in from the longitudinal peripheral edges.
 7. In a santiary garment adapted to be worn, and having opposite end portions constituting the front and back, and an intermediate portion for extending through the crotch of the wearer, the combination of: a holder comprising an elongated fluid-impervious backing sheet having two longitudinal side edges, and two, elongated side flaps in overlying relation with the longitudinal side edge portions of said backing sheet and each connected to said backing sheet along one of said side edges and having a free edge portion spaced Inwardly therefrom; a transverse stub seam between each of said side flaps and said backing sheet located in said intermediate portion of said garment and connecting the side flap to the backing sheet to maintain the side flap in overlying relation with the backing sheet in the crotch of the wearer while the garment is worn; and an elongated absorbent liner fitted in said holder and having side edge portions disposed between said side flaps and said backing sheet, said side edge portions of said liner having transverse notches therein interfitting with said stub seams to prevent slipping of said liner in said intermediate portion of said garment.
 8. The liner-holder of a sanitary garment adapted to be worn, comprising: an elongated, fluid-impervious backing sheet having two longitudinal outer peripheral edges; two elongated side flaps, each disposed in overlying relation with one side edge portion of said backing sheet and connected thereto along the outer side of the flap; said liner-holder having opposite end portions for lying against the front and back of a wearer, and an intermediate portion for extending through the crotch area; and at least one transverse stub seam between each of said side flaps and said backing sheet, located in said intermediate portion, and extending at least part way across the side flap to maintain the side flap in overlying relation with said backing sheet despite disarrangement of said liner-holder in the crotch area.
 9. The combination with the liner-holder defined in claim 8, of an elnogated fluid-absorbent liner disposed against said backing sheet and having side edge portions underlying said side flaps, said liner having notches in its longitudinal peripheral edges interfitting with said stub seams to retain the liner in a fixed position in the intermediate portion of the liner-holder.
 10. The combination defined in cliam 9 in which said stub seams and said notches are wedge-shaped, the wider ends thereof being the outer ends.
 11. In a santiary garment adapted to be worn with a fluid-absorbent liner having longitudinal side edges with notches in the intermediate portion thereof, said garment comprising an elongated, fluid-impervious backing sheet with opposite end portions constituting the front and back, and an intermediate portion for extending through the crotch of a wearer, said backing sheet having two longitudinal side edges; and two elongated side flaps each joined to said backing sheet along one of said longitudinal side edges and disposed in overlying relation with the backing sheet to cooperate therewith in defining a centrally open fluid reservoir in which the liner can be worn, the improvement comprising: transverse stub seam means for joining said side flaps to said backing sheet in said intermediate portion, to maintain said side flaps in overlying relation with said backing sheet in the crotch area while the garment is worn, and for also interfitting with the notches in the liner to prevent slipping of the liner in the crotch area.
 12. For use in a sanitary garment in combination with the liner-holder having an elongated, fluid-impervious backing sheet with two longitudinal peripheral edges, two elongated side flaps overlying the longitudinal edge portions of said backing sheet and joined to the backing sheet along said peripheral edges, and two transverse stub seams joining said side flaps to said backing sheet approximately midway between the ends of the liner-holder, a liner composed of absorbent material and sized and shaped to fit into the liner-holder against said backing sheet with side edge portions of said liner underlying said side flaps, said side edge portions of said liner having transverse locking notches therein, approximately midway between the ends of the liner, and sized and shaped to receive the stub seams when the liner is in the liner-holder.
 13. A liner as defined in claim 12 in which said transverse notches are wedge-shaped. 